Means for accelerating the opening of dry-pipe valves



- 1,613,343 Jan- 4 'E. EI

mums FOR ACCELERATING THE OPENING OF DRY PIPE VALVES Filed Feb. 1, 1926 s s eets-Shea 1 Figi l.

F A 6 \s I $41 as T lnvenTor.

Ezra E.-C\0rK b MMJrM Afiys.

'Jan. 4, 1927. K

1,613,343 E. E. CLARK MEANS FOR ACCELERATING THE OPENING OF DRY PIPE VALVES Filed Feb. 1, 192a s Sheets-Sheet 2 V 24 g V \nvenTor. Egru ECIQTK Anya Jan. 4 I927.

- E. E. CLARK MEANS FOR ACCELERATING THE O PENING OF DRY PIPE VALVES Filed Feb. l, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet s lnvnTor. Ezra E.C|arK b flwawyf 4 ATTys.

Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED stares EZRA E. CLARK, 0F NEWTON VILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR ACGELERATING THE OPENING OF DRY-PIPE VALVES.

Application filed February 1, 1926. Serial No. 85,235.

In the operation of a dry pipe valve it is a 'desideratum that the time interval between the opening of a sprinkler head and the tripping of the valve should be reduced as far as possible since when a sprinkler head opens it is important to have the water reach the open head with the least possible delay. For the accomplishment of this general object various devices have been devised, some of which perform the accelerating operation when a sprinkler head gives way by quickly exhausting the air from the system adjacent the dry pipe valve, and others of which perform this accelerating function by introducing pressure into the intermediate chamber of the dry pipe valve. In both instances the result is to speed up the operation of tripping the dry pipe valve so as to allow water to flow into the system.

Some of the prior devices for speeding up the operation of the dry pipe valve are so constructed that they will operate when the pressure in the system falls relatively rapid- 1y, as would be the case when a sprinkler head gives way, but will not operate when the pressure in the system falls very slowly as would result from a slow leakage oi air in the system.

My present invention relates to device of this class and has for its object to provide a novel mechanism for speeding up the opening movement of a dry pipe valve which is highly sensitivein that it will operate with a very small fall of pressure and which is also rapid, speedy and accurate in its operation.

The invention may be embodied in a device which will perform its function either by exhaustinthe air from the dry pipe system, whic ferred to in the art as exhausters, or it may be embodied in a device which will perform its function by introducing pres sure into the intermediate or neutral chamber of the dry pipe valve, which devices are known in the art as accelerators.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings some selected embodiments thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section illustrating a device embodying my invention and operating on the exhauster principle;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

devices are commonly re- Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a device embodying my invention associated with a dry pipe valve and operating as an accelerator.

A device embodying myinventi-on comp'rises a main valve chamber and a pilot ,valve chamber, both communicating with the possibleto produce a mechanism in which the pilot valve will be very sensitive and will be opened when the pressure in the system is reduced a very small amount. The opening of the pilot valve will immediately cause the opening of the main valve and as a result the accelerating action is performed with almost no delay follow ing the giving way of a sprinkler head.

' Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2', the device is embodied in a casing 1 which has within it a main valve chamber 2 which communicates with the system through a pipe (not shown) screwed into the opening 3 This main valve chamber 2 has an exhaust port 4 which is normally closed by a main valve 5, the exhaust port 4 leading either to the atmosphere or to the neutral chamber of a dry pipe valve.

The casing 1 has also within it a pilot valve chamber 6 which is provided with an exhaust port 7 leading to the atmosphere, said port being normally closed by a pilot valve 8. The chambers 2 and 6 are herein shown as separated by a movable partition in the form of a diaphragm 9 which is mounted on the stem'lO of the main valve 5. The pilot chamber 6 also has communication with the system so that normally the 7 same pressure exists in both the chambers 2 and 6 and the diaphragm 9 will be balanced.

In the construction herein shown the communication between the pilot valve chamber 6 and the system is through a duct 11 formed in the valve stem 10 and opening at one end into the chamber 2 and at the other end into the chamber 6.

The main valve '5 is also connected,

through the medium of a yoke 22, to another diaphragm 12 which extends across the casing and divides the main valve chamber 2 from the pressure chamber 13. This pressure chamber has communication through a pipe let with an auxiliary pressure chamber 15 at the upper end of the casing, which chamber is separated from the cham-- her 6 by another diaphragm 16.

The chambers 6 and 15 communicate with each other through a restricted orifice so that normally when the main and pilot valves 5 and 8 are closed the system pressure will exist in all the chambers 2, 6, 13 and 15 and the diaphragms will, therefore, all be balanced. The restricted orifice between the chambers 15 and 6 may be provided for in various ways without departing from the invention. It is herein shown at 17 and is formed in a disk 18 that is secured by a cap 61 to the upper end of a stem 19 rising from the diaphragm 16 said stem having a duct 20 extending therethrough, and communicating at its lower end with the chamber 6.

The pilot valve 8 is connected to the die-- phragm 16 through the medium of a yoke 21.

It will be remembered that under normal conditions the system pressure will exist in the four chambers 2, 6, 13. and 15 and hence all three diaphragms will normally be in a balanced condition.

Spring means are provided for acting on the valves 5 and 8 and normally holding them to their seats. In the present embodiment of the invention this spring. means is in the form of a spring 23 which is situated between the valve 8 and a collar 2e that is fast on the valve stem 10. The single spring 23 thus functions to hold both valves to their seats. a

r The operation of the device is as follows. Under normal conditions the valves 5 and 8 will be retained closed as shown in Fig. 2 and thepressure in the four chambers 15, 6, 2 and 13 will be the same as that in the system. Then a sprinkler head gives way the pressure will immediately fall in the system causing a corresponding); decrease of pressure in the chambers 2, 6, the pressure in the chamber 6 following that in the chamber 2 because of the size of the communicating duct 11. The restricted orifice 17, how ever, prevents any sudden drop of pressure in the chambers 13 and 15 and as a result as soon as the sprinkler head opens and the pressure in the chambers 2 and 6 fall the diaphragm 16 will immediately become unbalanced and the preponderance of pressure in the chamber 15 will tend to open the valve 8. The parts are so designed and arranged that the pilot valve 8 will open with a very slight decrease of pressure in the system.

As soon as this pilot valve is opened the air in the pilot valve chamber 6 is immediately exhausted through the port 7. The air in the chamber 2 will also escape into the chamber 6 throughthe duct 11 but since the duct 11 is very much smaller than the port 7 the pressure in the chamber 2 will fall much slower than in the chamber 6. As soon as the pressure falls in the chamber 6 there will be a leakage of air from the chain ers 15 and 13 into the chamber 6 through the restricted port 17 but because of the restriction of the port 17 the pressure change in the chambers 15 and 13 will be exceedingly slow.

21s a result of the exhausting of the pilot valve chamber 6 in the manner above set forth the diaphragm 9 will become unbalanced and the preponderance of pressure in the chamber 13 will operate through the diaphragm 12 and the yoke 22 to lift the main valve 5 from its seat thus allowing a quick exhaust of the chamber 2.

The port l is a large port and if it leads directly to the atmosphere the opening of the valve 5 will result in exhausting the air rapidly from the system thus quickly reducing the pressure on the air valve of the dry pipe valve to the tripping point. On the other hand, if the exhaust port 4 leads to the neutral chamber of the dry pipe valve the result will be that the pressure in the system will be quickly introduced into said neutral chamber thus neutralizing the air pressure against the air valve and causing the valve to trip.

The use of the pilot valve increases the sensitiveness of the device and renders it quicker in operation.

in Fig. 3 l have shown an embodiment of the invention wherein the accelerating device is built into a dry pipe valve and in which it operates as an accelerator purely. In Fig. 3 the dry pipe valve casing is shown generally at it having the inlet 26 and the outlet- 27 leading to the system. The inlet is normally closed by the water valve 23 which is connected to the air valve indicated generally at 29. the latter seating on the air valve seat 30 all as usual in dry pipe valves, there being the usual neutral chamber 33 between the valves. In this cmbodiment the air valve is provided with'an extension 31 having av duct 32 therethrough which communicates at one end with the neutral chamber and the other end of which is adapted to communicate with the system through the air chamber 53 of the dry pipe valve. This extension 31 terminates in a valve seat which is normally closed by a main valve which is carried by casing 36 that is secured to the dry pipe valve cas- This casing 36 carries at one .nd a (li-- aphragm 37 to which the valve 33 is secured. said valve having a valve stem 38 which is slidable hrough a bridge member extending across the casing and which is acted on by a spring that tends normally to lll hold the valve seated; against the valve seat 34 "The casing 36 is providedwithan exhaust port el-which is normally closedlbyapilot valve 42 that is situated within; the chamber t3 of the casingandwhich constitutes a pilot valve chamber. Said chamber 4.3 communicates with the system through a port 44 whichlea-ds through the wall of the easing into the recess T45 (of the dry pipe valve casinginto which the pilot valve casingis-insorted.

The pilot valve is eonnectedabyayoke 46 to a diaphragm -17 which extends across the .a casing 36 and; separates the a pilot a valve chamber 43 from a pressure chamber 48. This pressure chamber- Exhale a restricted communication with; the system through a pipe connection v49 that has a disk50; therein provided witha restricted orifice 51.

52indicates .a spring which acts against thediaphragmwand tends normally to hold the pilot valve seated. In this embodiment also under-normal operating conditions the pressure in thesystem will eXist'in the air chamber 53.0t' thedry pipe valve, in the pilot valve chambe and in the pressure chamber 48 .anrd,theretore, the-diapln'agnns 3'7 and-4L7 will be balanced.

'T he main valve 35 and the pilot1valve'42 are held to their seats as shown in full lines by the-springs 40 and 52. ,As soon as a sprinkler head gives way and the pressure in the system begins tofall there .will be a Corresponding fall of :pressure in the air chamber 53 and the pilot valve chamber e3 but-owing to the restricted orifice 51 the pressure inthe pressure chamber 48 :will decrease very slowly. Consequently, the dia phragm 4:7 vwill be immediately unbalanced thus opening the pilot valve 42 .andallowing the air in the pilot valve cha nberd ctocbe rapidly discharged.

The exhaust-port ll iorthe pilot valve chamber is considerably larger than the port l tiand ,tlrustheair will exhaust from the pilot valve chamber 43. much faster. than it can be admitted through theportA l. Gonsequently the diaphragm 87 Will be-ainbalanced with the result that the preponderance of pressure on the va ve side ,ofthediaphragm will force it back and thus open the main valve 35, as shown .by dotted line position Fig. .3. The gopeningof the mainrvalve allows the'air in the air chamber .53 and from the system to be delivered to the neutral chamber '33:wit h-the result that the air pressure against the air valve will be neutralized thus causing the dry pipe valve to trip. In this embodiment also the use of the pilot valve makes the device more sensitive and speeds up its operation, because by means of this construction a very small decrease of pressure in the system will be suflicient to unseat the pilot valve. In both embodiments oizthe invention also the pilot valve will operate zenlyvwhen the pressure in the-system has a relatively rapid fall in pressuresuch as would result in the giving way of a sprinkler head. Anyvery slow change of pressure in the system such as would resuit troma leakage less than the volume or amount which can pass through the restricted opening 1'? or 51 will not elfect theidevice because under-such conditions normal pressures will be maintained in the various chambers.

I claim:

1.. In device tor accelerating the action otia dry pipe valve in a sprinkler system, the combination with two chamber-seeparated by a movable partitioniand each having a discharge port, of a valve normally closing each port, said chambers both communicating with the system, whereby normally both sides of themovable partition are subjected to the system pressure, one of the valves being secured to said movable partition, and meansto unseat theother valve when the system pressure falls relatively rapidly and thereby unbalances the pres sures .on opposite sides of the movable partition, the hrstaramed valve being unseated by the consequent movement of the partition.

2. In a device of the class described,: the combination with two chambers separated by .a movable partition and each having a discharge port, a pressure chamberseparated from one of said chambers .by a second movable partition, the first two chambers having a relatively free comnmnication with the system and the pressure chamber having a restricted communication with said system whereby normally the system pressure obtains in all three chambers,-a discharge valve for .one discharge port carried by the. firstnamed movable partition, and .a pilot valve for the other discharge port carried. bythe second-named partition, whereby when the system pressure falls. relatively rapidly the second, a med movable partition will become unbalanced and will open the pilotvalve thereby unbalancingthe first-named partition and opening the other discharge valve. In a device of the class described, the combination with two chambers separated bya movable partition, oneot said chambers havinga main discharge port leading thererom and having free communicationwith the system, and the other havingapilot discharge port leading, therefrom and having a partially restricted communication with the system, a main discharge valve normally closing the main discharge port,

a pilot discharge valve normally closing the pilot dischargeport, whereby normally the system pressure obtains in both chambers, and means to unseat the pilot discharge valve upon a relatively rapid reduction of pressure in the system thereby accelerating the reduction of the air pressure in the chamber having partially restricted communication with the system and quickly unbalancing the pressures on the movable partition thus causing the main discharge valve to be nnseater.

i. In a device of the class described, the combination with two chambers separated by a movable partition, one of said chambers having a main discl'iarge port leading therefrom and having tree communication with the system, and the other having a pilot discharge port leading therefrom and having a partially restricted communication with the system, a main discharge valve normally closing the main discharge port, a pilot discharge valve normally closing the pilot discharge port, whereby normally the system pressure obtains in both chambers. means rendered operative by a relatively rapid fall of pressure in the svstcm but not e'tlected by a slow tall oi pressure to open the pilot discharge valve, thereby to unbalance the pres are on the movable partition and cause the main discharge valve to be opened. 5. In a device of the class described, the combination with two chambers separated by a movable partition, one ot' so Id chambers having a main discharge part and having free communication with the system and the other chamber having a pilot discharge port and having a partially restricted communication with the system, a pressure chamber having a restricted communication with the system and separated by a movable partition with the chamber having the pilot discharge port. a main discharge valve normally closing the main discharge port and connected to the first-named movable partition, a pilot discharge valve normally closing the pilot discharge port and connected to the secondnamed movable partition, whereby both movable partitions are normally balanced and when the pressure in the system falls relatively rapidly the second-named movable partition will become unbalanced thereby opening the pilot valve which will in turn unbalance the other movable partition and open the main discharge valve.

6. In an accelerator for dry pipe valves, the combination with a dry pipe valve having an air valve, a water valve, a neutral chamber between said valves, an air chamher on the system side of the air valve and a passageway leading from the air chamber to the neutral chamber, of a pilot valve chamber communicating with the system and having a discharge port, a pilot valve nor mally closing said discharge port, a diaphragm dividing said pilot valve chamber from the air chamber, a valve carried by said diaphragm for normally closing said passage, and means for causing the pilot valve to open upon the occurrence of a relatively rapid fall of pressure in the system, whereby the pilot valve chamber is exhausted and the diaphragm is moved to open said passage and allow system pressure to enter the neutral chamber.

7. In an accelerator for dry pipe valves, the combination with a dry pipe valve casing, an air "valve and a water valve therein, there being a neutral chamber between said valves and an air chamber on the system side of the air valve and also a passage from the air chamber to the neutral chamber, an accelerator casing carried by the dry pipe valve casing and having a pilot valve chamber communicating with the system and also provided with a discharge port, a movable partition subjected on one side to the pressure in the system and on the other to that of the pilot valve chamber, a valve carried by said movable partition and normally closing said passage, a pilot valve normally closing the discharge port of the pilot valve chamber, and means to unseat the pilot valve upon a relativelyrapid fall of pressure in the system.

8. In an accelerator for dry pipe valves, the combination with a dry pipe valve hav ing an air valve, a water valve and a neutral chamber between said valves, said air valve having a passage theret-hrough leading to the neutral chamber,,of a pilot valve chamber communicating with the system and having a discharge port, a pilot valve normally closing said port, means to open the pilot valve when the pressure in the system falls due to the opening of a sprinkler head, a d aphragm subjected at one side to the system pressure and on the other side to the pressure in the pilot valve chamber, and

a valve connected to the diaphragm and normally closing the passage through the air valve, whereby when the pilot valve is opened the pressures on the diaphragm will be unbalanced and the passage through the air valve will be opened.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EZRA E. CLARK. 

